0
Verumm Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Present Perfect and Future Perfect

Hello. Can I use Present Perfect and Future Perfect in the same sentence? "By the time he has written the letter, his friend will have done the shopping". These are plans for tomorrow. Is it possible to use Present Simple instead of Present perfect? Are there any differences?
Thanks.
  

Top answer

By the time he has written the letter, his friend will have done the shopping. By the time writes the letter, his friend will have done the shopping. To me, the first one seems more suitable if he is writing the letter now, or will be starting it soon, and it takes a reasonable time to write the letter, during which time the friend completes the shopping.

— GPY

  • By the time he has written the letter, his friend will have done the shopping.
  • By the time writes the letter, his friend will have done the shopping.
  • To me, the first one seems more suitable if he is writing the letter now, or will be starting it soon, and it takes a reasonable time to write the letter, during which time the friend completes the shopping.
  • The second one might be used if the letter will be written further in the future, such that the length of time it takes to write it is not very significant relative to other events.
  • However, this doesn't fit tremendously well with the "done the shopping" continuation.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
By the time he has written the letter, his friend will have done the shopping.
By the time writes the letter, his friend will have done the shopping.

To me, the first one seems more suitable if he is writing the letter now, or will be starting it soon, and it takes a reasonable time to write the letter, during which time the friend completes the shopping. The second one
0

Related Questions